Dan Williams
Abraham Lincoln said that “a nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure”.
In this time of great division and distraction in our country the sacrifice and service of our veterans is often forgotten. We do so at our peril, doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past while dishonoring those who served us honorably. Veterans Day is an opportunity to focus our gratitude on the freedoms we enjoy and on those who earned it and protected our way of life.
Today there are 17 million living Veterans or about 7 percent of the US population. Half of this number are those who served in the Post 9-11 period in wars such as Afghanistan and Iraq. One third of our living Veterans are Vietnam Veterans. Finally, there are about 500,000 still living Veterans from Korea and WWII. About half of the 17 million Veterans are over 65 and 25 percent are over 75. 10 percent of our Veterans are women. Today’s veterans are highly educated. In addition to military skills, nearly 69 percent of our Veterans have an associate or bachelor’s degree. In Teller County one out of 4 men are veterans and one out of 9 women are veterans.
Veterans Day has its origins over 100 years ago after WW1. WWI known as the great war due to the number of killed and wounded, ended on the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. It was the war that was to end all wars. WW1 had taken the lives of nearly 9 million soldiers. The first official commemoration of Armistice Day took place a year later in 1919. It was meant to be a day of reflection and gratitude for all those who served. In 1954, after WWII and the Korean War, President Eisenhower changed the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day, in order to honor all American Veterans of all wars past and future.
Today in the United States November 11th is set aside to thank and honor all of those who served honorably in the military in peace or in war. It gives each of us, our communities and our Nation an opportunity to recognize and thank our living Veterans for their service, their contribution towards keeping our Nation free, and acknowledge their sacrifice. Veterans’ organizations such as the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars and our schools often play significant roles in honoring Veterans Day through events and ceremonies.
Veterans are often recognized by the hats they wear commemorating their time of service and are often seen in the company of other veterans – especially on Veterans Day. Veterans are connected to each other by their service to our Nation, and many have experienced the trauma of war. Their service is characterized by bravery, sacrifice and intense emotional experience.. They are seen by many as American heroes who have served our country honorably and protected our freedoms. Veterans are often characterized as having a strong sense of duty and dedication. These traits transition with them from military to civilian life resulting in a strong work ethic and reliability. Veterans are trained to work in complex teams, and they often seek leadership opportunities as civilians. Veterans are resilient and work well under pressure. They are disciplined, loyal and dependable. Veterans are your friends and neighbors.
This Veterans Day reach out to one or more of the many veterans who call Teller County home. When you thank them for their service, take the time to listen to part of their story. Each one of them has contributed our American story. Many of them spent a large part of their youth in service. Some of them continue to suffer from the trauma of war and some of them carry wounds, both visible and invisible.
President Roosevelt captured the spirit of the Veteran and the reasons we honor them when he said, ““We, too, born to freedom, and believing in freedom, are willing to fight to maintain freedom. We, and all others who believe as deeply as we do, would rather die on our feet than live on our knees”.
Thank you Veterans.
*Dan Williams is the District 1 County Commissioner and a retired US Army Colonel, Apache pilot and combat veteran who lives with his wife, Suzan, also a retired US army Colonel on their ranch near Cripple Creek.
There will be a countywide Veterans Day Dinner from 4-7 at the Ute Pass Cultural Center on November 11. All Veterans and their families are warmly invited.
